Professor Robert Bird is a key member of the task force who developed our Social Responsibility and Impact in Business (MSSRIB) program. As the Eversource Energy Chair in Business Ethics at UConn, Professor Bird teaches students that legal insight is not just about compliance or risk avoidance; it is a powerful tool for innovation, organizational strength, and competitive advantage. 

Professor Bird’s recent book, Legal Knowledge in Organizations: A Source of Strategic and Competitive Advantage (Cambridge University Press), demonstrates how legal strategy can drive innovation, strengthen ethical cultures, and give businesses a crucial and competitive edge. 

“Legal strategy is not a license to circumvent legal obligations, but a valuable opportunity to grow an organization that generates superior value for both business and society,” Bird explains in a recent interview with UConn Today. “Corporations that recognize this can unlock a storehouse of value creation that their rivals might miss.” Bird notes that legal strategy has often been overlooked because lawyers and businesspeople tend to approach problems from different perspectives.  

One of the MSSRIB program’s many strengths is its cross-disciplinary approach. Courses like Professor Bird’s BLAW 5175: Business, Law & Ethics in Modern Society equip students with the skills to bridge these perspectives, giving them a competitive advantage as ethical leaders in today’s business world.  

Learn more about Professor Bird’s work and new book on UConn Today.